Tuesday, May 11, 2010

An open letter to Glucose Tablets:

Dear Tabs, (Can I call you Tabs?)

Hi there! It’s me, Meri. I want to first of all thank you for all the hard work you do for the diabetic community. You save lives. What can I say? I think we both know- that you know- how wonderful you are. It’s kinda’ obvious you KNOW the good that you do. I mean look at you sitting there…you look like you mean business, and your label is so smugly appealing! You’ve got it going on!

Yeah, but here’s the thing…You are chalky and gross and my boys hate you.

I KNOW!! Craziness! How can it be?? You are like a nutritional staple in so many diabetics lives…how in the world can my boys shun you? How can they reject you when you come in so many amazing flavors? Hello, Sour Apple…I mean, I would eat you in a heartbeat.

But not my cutie patootie boys. Honestly, I’m not being dramatic when I say they would rather pass out than eat you. Harsh I know…but when they are really low, and I shove one of you in their mouth, you are rejected every time. They won’t have you. They push you out with their tongue, they spit you out, OR…they gag.

They would rather have apple juice when they are really low. Who woulda thunk it? Sweet silky satisfying apple juice…sounds gross to me. But what ev’…I’m not diabetic.

And when they need a boost with a little fat, (because apple juice may get the job done, but it’s not gonna bring em home if you know what I mean…Do you know what I mean? I mean apple juice will bring them up, but won’t keep them there, so it’s good, but not great)….anyway if they are above 70 and want to go up and stay up THEY CHOOSE three different options. Yogos, pudding or a banana. These guys bring my boys bloods sugars up…and KEEP them where they are supposed to be. How can I argue…it works. They aren’t all my first choice of food groups for my boys, but the results are so satisfying, and the boys happiness IS the most important thing to me in the world...so...

Not that you wouldn’t do the job too, it’s just that…it is what it is.

And what it is…is…they hate you.

And I can’t MAKE them like you.

So please. Stop jumping into my cart at Target…because no matter how many times I bring you home…they WILL NOT CHEW YOU!

Someday, when they are older…they will find you much more convenient, and I’m sure they will cherish every last one of you. But until then…it’s Auf Wiedersehen . (But between you and me, I’m going to keep one little tube of you in my purse. Just in case they grow up already and agree to eat you.)

In closing, as much as I love, and appreciate your contribution….it is pretty much over.

Thanks for the love Tabs. And if you ever figure out how NOT to be chalky, but creamy and appetizing…let me know. I’ll sneak you into the food cupboard and pass you off as new hole-less lifesavers, and then maybe they’ll give you a whirl.

24 comments:

I'm with your boys, glucose tabs are nasty. Funny enough my daughter loves them!!! I just read some of your past posts because Ihave never been to your blog before and I just have to say that you are an amazing mom! This is such a difficult disease and your doing it x3 and it sounds like you doing it well x3.I like your Lost and diabetes comparison. I am a fan of the show on and off. Sometimes I love it and then I get so frustrated I could scream. I am going to try to watch the last few episodes.Nice to "meet" you.Yvette

I find it fascinating that the three of them all feel the same way. But I find it equally fascinating that this is not a more prevailing opinion. So that's a bit of a contradiction on my part. I try to mix it up for Caleb in the hope that he won't completely rebel against them.

Adele will eat them when at school, but not at home. Gummies are the remedy of choice when in our care. She's even developed a reflex where she can eat gummies while sleeping and not even remember the next morning. Rub them on her lips and she just opens her mouth waiting for them. They've saved our butt sooooo many times !!

My girls love the glucose tablets, funny how all your boys say no way to the chalky tabs :) I don't blame them, I have tried the tablets before and I am not a fan but my kids think they are like giant smarties and they gobble them up!

Oh Meri - I thought it was just my kiddo that hated the dang things! Here you have 3 tab-haters! I tried one, they are nasty. I can think of better items to bring up that sugar. I love that you use pudding, I gotta try that one. And tried a banana before and it worked well, gotta remember that one! Thanks hon!

Funny, awesome POST Meri as always. Luckily Joe loves glucose tabs and starbursts. I don't usually have trouble keeping him up with those, unless he is active...well...wait, that is most of the time...I do boost with PB after he is up sometimes.

LOL GREAT post, Meri!We are just now discovering "sugar tablets" at our house. Grape flavored ones were a no-go, but raspberry seems to be a hit... and of course whenever Jacob gets one, Jillian has to have one too... soo... they are going fast!! =)

Love the way you tackled this blog topic. :) All three of my kids like "tabs." They call them "blucose tabs," and whenever Jack needs one (or two or three), my other two beg to be given one, too. Yogos are another household favorite, too.

I've purchased every flavor. Even the 1 carb mini sour berry ones. I just can't get them down. I have some in my car for "just in case" but the chance of me eating one is almost non existent. I'd rather pull the car over, walk a mile to a store, and buy apple juice. I'd chance a low.

I love that you add humor in with all of the yucky stuff. I have been doing the D for only two months with my daughter and I can't imagine Xs 3! My hats off to you. You are a terrific mom and I know I will enjoy following your blog. Cheers!

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ABOUT ME

I am the mother to 4 wonderful boys, 3 of which have Type 1 Diabetes. Through this blog I hope to share our ongoing story, to help others see that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Like you, I have muddled through all the emotional phases diabetes has to offer a parent. I know of the worry that sits with you like an old friend, because he is my friend too. I just try not to make him the life of the party. Take the ride with me.

Disclaimer

I can S.W.A.G a meal three tables away. I can guesstimate a bolus in lightning speed. I can check my boys’ blood sugars in the wee hours of the morning, half asleep, with only one eye open. I can do a lot of things…but one thing I can’t do is be your child’s endocrinologist. Everything on this blog works for our family, but might not work for yours. Funny thing diabetes, one size does not fit all. If you see some technique here that you would like to try, call your doctor, use common sense, and remember: I am not a doctor…I’m just a mother of three boys with Type 1 Diabetes. That is it. Mother. Not doctor. Blogger. Not doctor. Friend. Not doctor. All comments will be publicly viewable, but contact information will remain private. Thanks for stopping by! Come again soon!